For some reason I
missed my Zuhr prayer. When I got my first opportunity and reached the place
reserved for prayers in the office premises, people were offering the ‘Asr
prayer in congregation. I offered my Zuhr prayer with the congregation and
later offered my ‘Asr prayer separately based on the information that no
individual prayer can be offered during congregation and that during the
battle of Khandaq when the Prophet (sws) missed prayers, he offered them at
the first opportunity in the same order in which they fell due when missed.
Mu‘ādh Ibn Jabal (rta) used to lead ‘Ishā prayer in congregation when he
himself was offering supererogatory prayers. This shows that the Imam’s
intention and that of his followers’ may be different. Was my action
justified?

Answer:

I think that the
matter of Mu‘ādh (rta) is quite different from that of yours. He had offered
his obligatory prayer before leading the prayer in his own tribe. Had you
offered your ‘Asr prayer and later found the congregation, then you could
have done so. Since you had to offer your ‘Asr prayer which is obligatory to
offer within the prescribed time, you cannot leave that and offer the missed
one which you could now offer anytime. However, it does not mean that you
need to repeat the prayer. You used your reason, which unfortunately led you
to a wrong conclusion, but none can render your prayer unacceptable. You
need only to correct your view and act accordingly in future.